Two of PIA's ATR 42-500 aircraft were damaged on 16 May
2014 when they were hit by a ground power unit (GPU) vehicle in the maintenance
hanger at the Islamabad Airport.The door of one of the aircraft was damaged
and the fuel tank of the other aircraft suffered minor damage.As a result
of the incident, the flight schedule for Gilgit-Baltistan has been affected.
The general manager and the deputy general manager, in-charge of the maintenance
area have been suspended. The GPU vehicle driver has also been suspended
and his airport security pass revoked. PIA has initiated an inquiry into
the incident.

A PIA PK-721 suffered bird hit during landing at Lahore
Airport on 7 May 2014. The aircraft sustained minor damage. Flight PK-721
is operated from Karachi to New York via Lahore & Manchester.
The Boeing 777 (flight PK-721) eventually departed Lahore with over eight
hours delay.

PIA on 6 May 2014, has invited bids for the wet lease of
up to four narrow body jet aircraft of 140 plus seats, for a period of
one month (extendable). The aircraft to be manufactured in 2000 or later
with delivery expected in July this year.
PIA has also invited bids for the dry lease of up to four turboprop aircraft
of 48 plus seats, for a period of six years. The year of manufacture to
be 2004 or later. The delivery is expected to be immediate but not to
be later than December 2014.

PIA flight PK-211 bound for Dubai returned to Islamabad
due to a bird ingestion into one of its engines during climb out. The
incident took place on 1 May 2014. The flight was carrying more than 140
passengers and crew.The flight resumed its journey after a delay of a
several hours.

After a period of four years, PIA managed an operating profit
of Rs. 1.67 billion for the first quarter of this year, i.e. 1 January
to 31 March 2014, as against a loss of Rs. 5.65 billion of corresponding
period of last year (2013).
According to the results of the first quarter of 2014, the total revenue
stood at Rs. 28.0 billion as against Rs. 25 billion of 2013. However,
the net loss after paying financial costs and taxation stood at Rs. 1.98
billion as against Rs 8.62 billion in the year 2013 which shows a remarkable
decline of almost 77 percent in losses. The loss per share has dropped
from Rs 2.86 to Rs 0.56.

A PIA flight PK-898, from Lahore to Kuala Lumpur, suffered
bird strike during landing on 23 April 2014. The Airbus A310 aircraft
was able to land safely.(19 May 14)

It appears that PIA will cease its twice weekly Islamabad
to Leeds/Bradford service from 15 May 2014. Although PIA has not issued
an official statement to this effect, the PIA's website does not show
availability of flights on this route from 15 May 2014 onwards.

A PIA pilot was fined £2,000 and was sent back for
entering UK without a valid UK visa. Captain Mohammad Ali Mansoob had
travelled from Islamabad to Manchester on 30 March 2014 via PIA flight
as a non-operating captain. He had to stay in Manchester and then operate
another flight to New York.
At Manchester airport he tried to pass the immigration counter by using
the space reserved for the airline crew. However, the Border Force asked
for his papers/visa, etc, and held him after finding out that he did not
have a valid visa.
The UK authorities did not allow the PIA pilot to operate a scheduled
PIA flight for New York from Manchester on April 1. Instead, he was sent
back to Pakistan.(21 Apr. 14)

According to its website, PIA has started once-a-week non-stop
flight between Lahore and Bahrain, this is in addition to existing once
a weekly flight between Lahore and Bahrain which operates via Doha.

The National Assembly was informed on 2 April 2014, that
after the introduction of 11 narrow body aircraft, between April and October
this year, PIA?s fleet of Boeing 737-300 will be grounded. Furthermore,
the National Assembly was informed that after this year?s Hajj operations,
Boeing 747-300 will also be grounded. The Airbus A310 will be grounded
at some stage as well and all these aircraft will be sold by auction through
open bidding.

PIA signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) on 24 March 2014, for
the dry lease of eight Airbus A320 aircraft from Qatar Aviation Lease
Company (QALC).
The monthly lease rental for these aircraft is stated to be between US
$240,000 to 300,000 per aircraft per month.
The government's Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) in its meeting
of 27 March 2014 approved US $30.0 million loan for PIA, for the dry lease
of eight narrow-body aircraft.The aircraft should start joining the PIA
fleet from July 2014.

Two Airbus A320's have joined the PIA fleet on wet lease,
from the end of March 2014.
PIA had invited the bids in January 2014 for a total of eight aircrafts.
Two aircraft for the lease period from 15 March to 31 May 2014. Four aircraft
for the lease period from 1 June to 31 July 2014 and two for the lease
period from 1 August to 31 October 2014.
The criterion was 140 plus seats, the year of manufacture was specified
as 2000 or after.(07 Apr.14)

A PIA flight PK-899 from Kuala Lumpur to Lahore suffered
from engine problem on 20 March 2014. The engines number one of the Airbus
A310 suffered vibration and the aircraft returned to Kuala Lumpur twenty
minutes after takeoff.
The fault was repaired and the aircraft landed at Lahore Airport on 22
March 2014.The unavailability of this Airbus affected PIA flights operation
between 20 and 22 March 2014.

PIA has decided to add an additional flight from Lahore
to London Heathrow. The additional flight will operate on Wednesdays.
PIA currently has 10 slots for London's Heathrow airport, four flights
from Islamabad, four from Lahore & two from Karachi.

As of 1 May 2014, PIA will temporarily shift its flight
operations from Dubai International Airport to Sharjah, as the Dubai Airport
will be closed for a couple of months due to the repairs to the runway.
PIA currently operates fourteen flights per week to Dubai.

PIA is starting, non-stop once a week flights between Sharjah,
UAE and four Pakistani cities. PIA already operates flights between Sharjah
and Turbat, however as of 30 March 2014, it will commence flights between
Sharjah and Karachi, Islamabad, Peshawar and Multan.

PIA had recently floated the tenders for obtaining eight
aircraft, four wide-bodied with 390-plus seating capacity and four smaller
ones having 50-plus seating capacity, on a six-year dry lease. The delivery
of the aircraft had to start from July, 2014.
Five companies namely; Dubai Aerospace, Standard Chartered Bank, Bank
of China, Aircraft Leasing Corporation and D.V. Bank, had submitted the
bids. Some companies offered Boeing 777s while others ATRs. The bids were
opened on 14 March 2014 and all five bids were rejected as none of the
bidders met the conditions, some were offering old aircraft, as old models
as 1999, while others were not able to deliver the aircraft within the
prescribed time and offering to make the delivery in 2015 and 2016 or
even later.

As reported below, the PIA bid evaluation panel has rejected Boeing 737-800
and Airbus A320 aircraft offered by KL AeroParts.
The bid by Qatar Aviation Lease Company (QALC) have been accepted which
offers eight Airbus A320-200 aircraft with IAE V2500 engines. Four aircraft
are manufactured in 2011 and four in 2012. (24 Mar.14)

As reported in our bulletin dated 10 February 2014, PIA
had invited bids for the lease of 10 narrow-body aircraft. The bids were
received on 7 March 2014 from two companies, Qatar Aviation Lease Company
and KL Aero parts.
The bid offer of Qatar Aviation Lease Company included eight Airbus A320
Aircraft. Four aircraft manufactured in 2011 and four aircraft manufactured
in 2012.The second bid offer received was of KL Aero Parts for ten Airbus
A320 and ten Boeing 737-800 aircraft manufactured in 2014.The bidders
have committed delivery by last week of July 2014.

The Federal government has recently approved in principle,
a plan for revival of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), aimed at
bringing the national flag-carrier, currently running in loss of billions
of rupees, to a break-even level within a year, by increasing revenue
and taking cost-cutting measures.
Under the plan, 20 new generation, narrow-bodied and fuel-efficient planes
will be inducted into the fleet with Airbus 320 and Boeing 737 as the
preferred options, besides getting four Boeing 777 and the same number
of ATR 72-500 aircraft on dry lease.
Three planes had been obtained on lease, while tenders for getting 10
narrow-bodied aircraft had been floated and the bids received, another
seven planes would be inducted.
The induction of new planes into the fleet was expected to generate annual
revenue of Rs. 72.0 billion at 85pc seat factor and 12.5-hour utilisation
per day.
The government has given a written assurance to the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) that 26 per cent shares of PIA will be sold by the end of this
year.

The Federal government confirmed in the National Assembly,
in February 2014, that it has given a package of Rs.16.0 billion to the
maintenance companies, for the maintenance of aircraft of PIA.(10 Mar.14)

PIA has invited tenders to install an ATR 42/72 full flight
simulator, on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) / Joint Venture (JV) basis
at its Training Centre in Karachi. The certification standard shall be
?Level D? and the engine option shall be PW127. The delivery of the simulator
should be immediate but not later than December 2014. The tender return
date is 18 March 2014.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has signed an exclusive,
three-year Engine Management Program (EMP) agreement with Pratt &
Whitney, a United Technologies Corporation of USA. The agreement is for
Pratt & Whitney to maintain PIA?s fleet of twelve PW4152 engines used
on the Airbus A310-300 aircraft.(24 Feb.14)

The PIA on 5 February 2014, has invited bids to dry lease
up to ten narrow body aircraft, for a period of eight years. The year
of manufacture of the aircraft to be 2010 or later, the aircraft should
have a minimum of 175 seats and the delivery should be immediate but no
later than 30 July 2014.
The bids will be opened on 7 March 2014.

Due to the attacks on the Shia pilgrims in Balochistan,
the PIA on the orders of Prime Minister, will next month start flights
Najaf in Iraq and Mashad in Iran.(10 Feb.14)

PIA has extended the wet lease of two Boeing 737-800 aeroplanes.
The lease term of two Travel Service Boeing 737-800s (OK-TVX and OK-TSC)
has been extended for four months from January 29 to May 31, 2014.PIA
has signed an agreement in November 2013 with Travel Service for the wet-lease
of the two aircraft for two months.
PIA has currently four Boeing 737-800s on short term lease, the two aircraft
mentioned above are from that batch of four.

PIA has, on 16 January 2014, signed a Letter Of Intent for
the dry lease of three Airbus A320s and an initial payment has been made
to aircraft leasing company. These are three of the five aircrafts which
were approved by the PIA board of Directors and the Economic Coordination
Committee of the cabinet.The three aircraft will be dry leased for six
years, all three were built in 2004. These aircraft are configured to
carry 174 passengers and the first two A320s will be delivered in July
this year whilst the third will be delivered in October 2014.

PIA, on 14 January 2014, invited "sealed bids"
from interested parties for the wet lease of narrow body aircraft as below:
2 aircraft, for lease period from 15 March to 31 May 2014.4 aircraft,
for lease period from 1 June to 31 July 2014.2 aircraft, for lease period
from 1 August to 31 October 2014.Seating Configuration: 140 plus seats
Year of Manufacture: 2000 or laterMinimum Guaranteed Block Hours: 275
hours per aircraft per monthThe bids received will be opened on February
14, 2014.

A PIA flight PK-853, experienced problem with its landing gear while landing
at Islamabad airport, on 3 January 2013. The aircraft veered off the runway
during landing, none of the passengers or crew were hurt. The runway remained
closed for about half an hour, affecting a number of flights. The incoming
flights were diverted to other airports such as Lahore.(26 Jan.14)

PIA has started direct flights from Multan to Jeddah and
Madinah. The once a week flight to Jeddah started on 3 January 2014 and
the once a week flight to Madinah started on 4 January 2014.
PIA already operated flights to Jeddah and Madinah from Multan but those
were via Karachi.(06 Jan.14)

PIA intends to start twice weekly Lahore-Rome-Barcelona-Islamabad
flights, by the end of this month.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) signed a comprehensive
engine support contract with Lufthansa Technik AG of Germany, on 5 December
2013 . The German company will look after the Pratt & Whitney PW4000
engines of the six Airbus A310s in PIA's fleet. The five-year contract
covers spare engine support, engineering services, logistics and repair
& overhaul.The new partnership follows the recent signing of a three-year
contract covering technical services for the Pratt & Whitney Canada
PW127 engines in PIA's fleet of six ATR42 turboprop aircraft, to be provided
by Lufthansa Technik's subsidiary Lufthansa Technik AERO Alzey. The first
engine is currently undergoing overhaul at its facility near Frankfurt.
This is the first long term contract between PIA and Lufthansa Technik.
(24 Dec.13)

Two men were cleared on 28 November 2013 of endangering
a PIA plane after a British court heard that they were "idiots, not
terrorists".
Mohammed Safdar, 42, and his friend Tayyab Subhani, 30, were arrested
in May after their flight from the Pakistani city of Lahore to Manchester,
England had to make an emergency diversion to London's Stansted Airport.
Britain scrambled Typhoon fighter jets to intercept the flight.
It had been claimed that Safdar, supported by Subhani, made threats to
blow up the plane and kill its crew and passengers after an argument broke
out with air stewards at 30,000 feet (9,100 metres) above ground.
But the judge instructed the jury to find the pair not guilty after concluding
that the case against them was ?tenuous and peppered with inconsistencies?.
" Under the circumstances no jury can properly convict these men,"
judge Charles Gratwicke told Chelmsford Crown Court in Essex, just outside
London.
A series of witnesses had told the court that although the men acted like
"idiots", they had not made serious threats to blow up the plane.
Captain Nadeem Sufi originally alerted authorities to the scare, but told
the court that once the severity of the diversion operation became clear
he had tried to reverse the decision by telling air traffic control that
the men were "laughing and joking". Safdar and Subhani, who
are from Nelson, Lancashire in northwest England, had been returning from
Safdar's mother's funeral in Pakistan.
Prosecutors had stressed that the pair were not "Islamic extremists"
or "terrorists," but that the crew was forced to take the threats
seriously.
Once on the ground, the plane was surrounded by armed police under a full-scale
bomb alert.

PIA will be re-introducing Boeing 737 for flights between
Islamabad and Skardu, which is currently operated by ATR 42-500 turboprop
aircraft. The flights by Boeing 737 were stopped due to shortage of aircraft.

The PIA Board of Directors on 23 November 2013, gave approval
to acquire ten aircraft on lease. PIA plans to acquire four Airbus A320s
and six Airbus A319s. The delivery of these aircraft is expected to start
in April 2014.
However, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on 3
December 2013, approved the lease of five A320 aircraft from the ten A319/320
aircraft short listed on merit based on their combined score tabulated
on their financial and technical parameters of the tenders received. The
ECC rejected the remaining five aircraft because of their low combined
score.
In order to overcome the shortage of five planes (rejected by the ECC),
the Committee suggested that the lease period of the present aircraft
hired on wet lease (four Boeing 737-800) may be extended so that a pool
of at least ten aircraft be maintained for convenience of general public
and passengers.
The ECC also authorized PIA to initiate bidding for tender of five aircraft
which may be inducted by June 2014.
It is hoped that the training of PIA pilots for leased Airbus A320 aircraft
will start in January 2014.
A PIA pilot, who was detained by UK police on 18 September 2013 at Leeds/Bradford
airport for being drunk, has been jailed for nine months, before he was
due to fly an Airbus A310 with 156 passengers on board.
Captain Irfan Faiz, 55, was asked to leave the cockpit during checks for
the flight from Leeds Bradford airport to Islamabad because he smelled
of alcohol and was unsteady on his feet. The father-of-two was found to
have three times the legal amount of alcohol in his blood, prosecutors
told the court in Leeds in northern England.

The two Boeing 737-800 leased by the PIA, were delivered
on 21 November 2013. PIA has damp leased the four Boeing 737-800 aircraft
on short term damp lease, until end of March 2014. The remaining two were
delivered on 28 November 2013. All four planes have joined the PIA fleet
and are undertaking flight operations.(09 Dec.13)

PIA shall increase flights between Karachi & Kathmandu
(non-stop)from the current weekly to 2 flights per week.
Also the flights to Kuala Lumpur will be increased from three per week
to four per week, commencing 22 November 2013.

As reported previously, PIA has restored Faisalabad Dubai flights from
12 November 2013, the frequency is twice a week.
PIA has also restored once a week, Faisalabad to Abu Dhabi flight.

The PIA Board finally approved the tender to wet lease four
Boeing 737-800, for a period of six months. The aircraft will be delivered
in December 2013.
The two of the four aircraft are Turkish and the other two are from the
Czech Republic, the aircraft were built between 2000 and 2007.(19 Nov.13)

PIA has decided to restore Faisalabad Dubai flights from
12 November 2013, the frequency will be once a week and it will be Multan-Faisalabad-Dubai
route. The flights on this route were suspended by the PIA a few months
back.

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on 22 October 2013, expressed
annoyance over the non appointment of Chairman Pakistan International
Airlines (PIA) and also expressed serious reservations over the privatization
of PIA without approval of Council of Common Interest.(04 Nov.13)

A PIA Boeing 747-300 from Islamabad to Lahore suffered bird
strike during landing at Lahore's Allama Iqbal International Airport,
on 14 October 2013. The aircraft has been grounded due to engine damage.

A PIA flight PK-213 left Karachi for Dubai on 7 October
2013. Shortly after take-off from Karachi's Jinnah International airport,
one the engines of the Airbus A310 caught fire, possibly due to bird ingestion.
The fire was extinguished by the cockpit crew by switching off fuel supply
to that engine before landing. An emergency was declared at the airport,
however the aeroplane with 62 passenger & crew members managed to
land safely.
An alternate flight was arranged to take the passengers to their destination.(21 Oct.13)

The federal government on 4 October 2013, directed the Privatisation
Commission to immediately start the process of privatisation of public
owned enterprises.
The companies cleared for de-investment include Pakistan International
Airlines, PIA-Roosevelt Hotel, New York and the Civil Aviation Authority.

PIA is to restart flights between Quetta and Dubai, the
flights were suspended a few months ago due to lack of operational aircraft
in PIA fleet at that time.

PIA, on 26 September 2013, announced results for the half year ended 30
June, posting unconsolidated loss at Rs.18.4 billion. This compared to
the loss of Rs.18.0 billion in the corresponding six months of 2012.

In a major positive move PIA shall introduce 25 additional
(International & domestic) flights in its winter schedule of this
year, details of flight increases on the International route are as follows;
An additional flight to Toronto (Canada), starting from 7 November 2013,
making it four flights per week.
The flight frequency to Manchester (UK), will be increased from five to
Six flights per week.
The number flights to Birmingham (UK), will increas from three to four
flights per week.
The flight frequency to Muscat (Oman), will be increased from six to Seven
flights per week. The number of flights to Kathmandu (Nepal), will increase
from five to Six flights per week The flight frequency to Dubai will be
increased from the current 18 flights per week to 22 flights per week.
The number of flights to Abu Dhabi will increase from five to eight flights
per week.
The flight frequency to Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), will be increased from
three to five flights per week.
The number of flights to Dhaka (Bangladesh), will increase from the current
three flights per week to five.
Similarly PIA has increased the flight frequency of some of its domestic
routes, details as follows;
The flight frequency between Karachi and Islamabad will increase from
42 to 46 flights per week.
The number of flights between Islamabad and Lahore will increase from
28 to 31 per week.
The flights between Islamabad and Quetta will increase from the current
8 flights per week to 11 flights per week. (07 Oct.13)

A PIA pilot was arrested on 18 September 2013, at Leeds/Bradford
airport on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a plane. The captain
of flight PK-776 (Airbus A310) from Leeds/Bradford in UK, to Islamabad
has been named as 54 years old Irfan Faiz, he was more than four times
the legal alcohol limit when he was arrested in the cockpit of a plane.
It was the airport managers who suspected of being drunk and called the
police.
Captain Irfan Faiz pleaded guilty (to being drunk in-charge of a plane),
at Leeds Magistrates Court, however the Magistrate decided that the crime
was serious enough to warrant a sentence of more than six months, therefore
the Magistrate referred the case to Crown Court, for sentencing on 18
October 2013.
Due to unavailability of any alternate captain, the flight had to make
a night stop at Leeds. Later, where passengers were shifted to hotel,
the flight departed the next day with a delay of 15 hours.
A spokesman for PIA, stated that if convicted, Faiz would be sacked.

In another incident of un-professional behaviour, three
flight stewards of PIA, were taken into custody by the Greater Manchester
Police on complaint made by a British woman, on 18 September 2013. The
three members of the cabin crew had arrived on a flight from Lahore and
it is alleged that there was an issue about price of woman taken to hotel
they were staying in. Some price fixing issue went wrong and the woman
complained to police.
All three have been released on bail and allowed to return to Pakistan.
A PIA spokesman, commenting on the incident, stated that upon receipt
of a final report, the violators will face further severe action according
to the rules of the corporation.

PIA has recently increased the number of flights between
Islamabad and Lahore, by three additional flights per week.

PIA has suspended its weekly flight to Kathmandu as of 9
September 2013, it operated its last scheduled flight to Kathmandu on
2 September 2013, using Airbus A310. The suspension of flights is due
to the cracks that have appeared on the runway, subsequently the Civil
Aviation Authority of Nepal has placed a ban on wide body aircraft operations
at Kathmandu airport.
The decision to resume wide body aircraft operations will be taken after
the evaluation of the cracks/damage to the runway, has been completed.
The repair work could take at least 8 weeks & according to the Civil
Aviation Authority of Nepal, the runway will not be available for wide
body operations anytime before December 2013 -January 2014. (23 Sept.13)

The new federal government has prepared a Re-structuring
plan for the PIA, its salient points are as follows;
The new plan requires PIA2 to be formed by December 2013, under a separate
public sector enterprise.
The Old and non working equipment of the airline will become part of PIA2.
Surplus employees of the airline will be offered golden handshake in PIA2.
PIA2 will cease to exist by the end of June 2014.
26 percent of PIA shares will be sold/auctioned by the end of June 2014.
The PIA will retain some liabilities that it can service, streamline workforce
and will receive capital injection from the government. In the meantime,
PIA will continue contracting leases on more efficient airplanes and rationalizing
routes.

An Air Transport Agreement was signed in August 2013, between
Pakistan and Bahrain, allowing PIA and Gulf Air to operate additional
flights between the two countries.
Gulf Air flies 14 times a week to Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore and Peshawar,
it has been given the right to increase the number of flights to 25 a
week.
An air transport agreement was first signed between Pakistan and Bahrain
in the early 1970s, following which the Gulf Air's first flight to Pakistan
landed at Karachi International Airport in 1972.

PIA has ceased its twice weekly flights to Frankfurt/Amsterdam.
The last PIA flight PK-764 from Amsterdam to Frankfurt to Islamabad, landed
at Islamabad on 7 September 2013, at around 8:25 am. Apparently, this
route was one of the most busiest, profitable and lucrative route for
the PIA.The PIA has stated that the suspension of the flights is temporary
because the airline is facing shortage of aircraft and will deploy a number
of its aircraft on Hajj flights operation.(09 Sept.13)

A PIA flight PK290, from Bahrain to Lahore, aborted take-off
at Bahrain International Airport on 21 August 2013. It is reported that
one of the aircraft's engine suddenly stopped working just before takeoff.
After a 12 hours delay, the passengers were sent to Lahore via an alternative
flight.

A PIA Airbus A310 suffered a bird strike on 17 August 2013, while on
its approach at Lahore's Allama Iqbal Airprot. The aircraft suffered damage
to one of its engine, however the pilot managed to land the aircraft safely.
As a consequence the aircraft left Lahore 16 hours later.

As of 14 August 2013, PIA has started flights to Kashgar,
China, from Islamabad. The flights operated in collaboration of Rayyan
Air of Pakistan. PIA will use Airbus A310 on this route which has 223
economy class seats.
The inaugural flight carried 89 passengers. The flight duration between
Islamabad and Kashgar is one hour. (26 Aug.13)

A PIA Airbus A310-300 (AP-BGP) operating flight PK-206 from
Kuwait to Lahore, suffered bird strike during landing at Lahore Airport
on 9 August 2013. One of the engines of the aircraft was damaged and the
aircraft was grounded.

A PIA flight PK-721, from Karachi to Lahore to Manchester
(UK), suffered bird strike while landing at Lahore airport, on 6 August
2013. The Boeing 777 (AP-BGY), consequently left for the onward flight
to Manchester seven hours late.

The PIA floated yet another tender on 3 August 2013, for acquiring six
short range aeroplanes on dry lease. According to a PIA spokesperson,
the process of the acquiring the aircraft would be completed in three
months.

The PIA advertised in the local papers on 4 August 2013,
for the auction of structure of retired Boeing 747. The open public auction
will be held on 28 August 2013, in the disposal yard located at P&L
Department, Karachi Airport, on "As is Where is Basis".The
Boeing 747-367 was built in 1985 and delivered to Cathy Pacific of Hong
Kong. PIA leased the aircraft in 1999 and eventually purchased it in 2002.

In July 2013, the new government appointed Mr. Muhammad
Ali Gardezi, Secretary Aviation as Chairman PIA.
Captain Humayun Jameel - a Boeing 777 Captain has been appointed by the
government as the new Deputy Managing Director of PIA. (16 Aug.13)

A PIA flight PK-785 from Islamabad to London landed in Moscow,
Russia, on 21 July 2013, due to engine problem. There were 132 passengers
on board the Boeing 777-340ER, all passengers and crew remained safe and
were looked after at Moscow airport lounge.
PIA diverted its second Islamabad to London flight (PK-701), by Boeing
777-240ER to pick up the stranded passengers of flight PK-785 from Moscow.

A stationary Boeing 747 of the Pakistan International Airlines was hit
by a passenger bridge at Karachi airport on 20 July 2013, damaging and
grounding the aircraft and delaying the flight by about two hours.
There were over 300 passengers for the flight who were sent to Lahore
on a replacement aircraft, a Boeing 777. The Boeing 747 was sent for repairs
to its body which was ruptured in the incident.

According to a PIA press release on 18 July 2013, the International
Air Transport Association (IATA), has renewed its IATA Operational Safety
Audit (IOSA) registration for PIA. The IOSA registration has been extended
for the next two years following PIA's fifth operational safety audit.
PIA has been successfully adhering to the IATA standard for operational
safety by qualifying IOSA audit conducted by different IATA accredited
Audit Organizations (AO) since 2005. The IOSA Standard covers all major
areas of operations from Flight Operations, Dispatch, Cabin Services,
Security Services, Ground Handling, Cargo Operations, Maintenance &
Engineering and Organizational Management & Control.The IATA Operational
Safety Audit (IOSA) is the benchmark for global safety management in airlines.

Federal Minister for Finance, Senator Ishaq Dar while chairing
ECC meeting on 12 July 2013, decided to release Rs 7 billion to PIA to
make payments to its vendors. The seven billion rupees will be spent by
the airline for procurement/payment of spare parts, tools, machinery etc.

PIA placed an advert in the local papers on 17 July 2013,
for hiring a Chairman/ Chief Executive of the corporation on contract
basis, for a period of three years.(31 Jul.13)

The new management of PIA has decided to replace the existing
business class seats in its fleet of nine Boeing 777s, with new. Each
aircraft has 35 business class seats and each new seat costs approximately
Rs. 2.5 million.

The new Pakistani government has reconstituted the board
of directors of the Pakistan International Airlines, on 3 July 2013.
The new board comprises of prominent businessmen; Aslam Khaliq, Mian Mohammad
Mansha, Naseer N.S. Jaffer, Arif Habib, Sarfaraz A. Rehman and Imran Khan.
Aviation Secretary Mohammad Ali Gardezi and Finance Secretary Dr Waqar
Masood Khan are ex-officio members of the board.
A number of new members of the board are reported to have conflict of
interest with PIA, due to their business activities.
Furthermore, The Government on the same day appointed Aslam Khaliq as
a Chairman PIA. He will also have powers of airline's Chief Executive
Officer (CEO). He replaces Lieutenant General (Retd) Asif Yasin Malik
as Chairman PIA. Mr. Khaliq was Chairman of Reckitt Benckiser Pakistan,
before being appointed Chairman of PIA.

As of 26 June 2013, PIA has started once a week flight from
Panjgur, in Balochistan, to Sharjah via Turbat (also in Balochistan),
using ATR-42. (17 Jul.13)

A PIA aircraft operating flight PK-781 from Karachi to Toronto
via Islamabad, suffered bird strike on its landing approach to Islamabad
airport, on 28 June 2013. As a result, the departure to Toronto was delayed
by three hours. The aircraft involved was a Boeing 777.

There are unconfirmed reports that PIA flight PK-248, from
Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Lahore suffered bird strike on its landing approach
to Lahore's Allama Iqbal airport, on 25 June 2013.

A PIA flight PK-206, from Kuwait to Lahore suffered bird
strike on its landing approach to Lahore's Allama Iqbal airport on 25
June 2013. The Airbus A310 landed safely.

A PIA flight PK-340 from Karachi to Faisalabad, on 18 June
2013, had lined up on runway and was cleared for takeoff, due to incorrect
power settings of the engines, the crew lost control and the aircraft
veered off the runway. The crew regained control and brought the aircraft
back onto the runway. The aircraft subsequently returned to the apron.
No injuries occurred. The aircraft sustained damage and also damaged a
couple of runway edge lights.The passenger of the aircraft Airbus A310
(registration AP-BEG), were flown to their destination by a replacement
Airbus A310. (01 Jul.13)

The new Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, constituted a four-member
committee on 14 June 2013, to prepare proposals for restructuring the
Pakistan International Airlines (PIA). The committee members include Finance
Minister Ishaq Dar, Captain Shujaat Azeem, adviser to the prime minister
on aviation, former finance minister Shaukat Tarin and technocrat Navaied
Malik.
The Prime Minister directed members of the committee to present at the
next meeting proposals to solve problems the PIA was facing and ways of
making it a viable entity.
The committee has also been tasked to prepare a future business plan for
the airline which at this stage needs more than Rs20 billion to buy new
aircraft and overhaul those under use.

A PIA Boeing 737-300 operating flight PK-743 from Multan
to Karachi suffered bird strike during landing approach at Karachi Airport,
on 7 June 2013. The aircraft managed to land safely at Karachi Airport.
(17 Jun.13)

PIA has invited bids for the "wet lease" of two
wide body aircraft, of 300 to 400 seat capacity, for the Hajj season.
The closing date for the submissions is the 2 July 2013.

PIA flight PK-709 from Lahore to Manchester, UK, on 24 May
2013, was escorted by Royal Air Force "Typhoon" jet fighter
and diverted to Stansted Airport, near London. The flight had 308 passengers
and crew on-board. The
It appears that there was a family of eight to ten people on-board who
were arguing over something, they also had heated words with the cabin
crew when asked to calm down. Two male passengers from the group threatened
to blow up the plane. The cabin crew informed the captain, who followed
procedures and alerted the control tower. The RAF jet was scrambled to
investigate and escort the plane to Stansted. After landing at Stansted,
the aircraft was surrounded by the security forces and passengers disembarked.
The plane was searched for any explosives but none were found and the
two passengers who made the threat were arrested and charged with endangering
the plane, both are British Nationals of Pakistani descent. The two passengers
have been identified as taxi driver Tayyab Subhani, 30, and restaurant
worker Mohammed Safdar, 41, both from Nelson in Lancashire, northwest
England.
The Boeing 777-340ER (registration AP-BID) was cleared the next day to
resume its journey. By strange coincidence, it was the very same plane
on the very same route -- Lahore to Manchester -- that was diverted to
Stansted in September 2011 due to a bomb scare.(03 Jun.13)

PIA has ceased its twice weekly Quetta-Zahedan flights.
The flights on this route were launched in January 2011, using ATR-42-500.

A PIA flight PK-795, with 250 passengers on board, from
Islamabad to Barcelona, Spain, avoided an accident on 28 April 2013. The
PIA flight was cleared to land at the Barcelona Airport, however, when
the PIA flight was at an altitude of about 300ft, it realised that the
runway was occupied by Qatar Airways aircraft. The captain contacted the
control tower and was performed a go-round.

At the end of April 2013, PIA once again, placed advertisements
in the local newspapers, inviting bids for dry lease of narrow-body aircraft,
of 140 plus seat capacity, however this time the number of aircraft has
increased to 12.
Four of the aircraft are for a lease period of three years, to be delivered
by December 2013. The aircraft required should have been manufactured
in 1996 or later.
The eight aircraft are for a lease period of six years, for delivery in
the first quarter of 2014. The aircraft should have been manufactured
in 2004 or later.
The advertisements also appeared in the "Flight International"
magazine of 14-20 May 2013. The closing date for the submission of the
bids is 31 May 2013.

PIA has decided to stop the twice weekly flights on the
Islamabad-Lahore-Hyderabad-Nawabshah route.(21 May 13)

A female flight attendant of PIA was detained at Manchester
Airport on 12 April 2013, after half a kilogram of narcotics was recovered
from her which was concealed in her laptop. The particular female cabin
crew member was from flight PK-709 from Lahore to Manchester.

On 11 March 2013, we reported a delivery schedule for the
PIA's Airbus A320, which the PIA is dry-leasing, however the delivery
schedule has been revised. The first of the A320s will now be delivered
in June this year, the second and third examples will be delivered during
August 2013 and the fourth in November 2013. There is no mention of the
fifth aircrafts, so it is assumed that PIA will only be leasing four Airbus
A320s. The aircraft are being leased to relieve the current shortage of
aeroplanes in PIA's fleet. (22 Apr. 13)

PIA had recently advertised on local newspapers to dispose
of its Boeing 747-240B Combi (ex-AP-BAK) and Boeing 737-340 (ex-AP-BCA)
aircraft by open public auction, on "As is, Where is" basis.
The auction will be held at Karachi Airport on April 23, 2013.
Originally, PIA invited bids for the disposal of these planes by sealed
bids in February this year.(09 Apr. 13)

The Ministry of Defence has appointed task force of three
serving military officials to look at PIA's current situation, particularly
the human resource. According to PIA sources, Brigadier Hamid Usman, Colonel
Atif Dar and Wing Commander Zulfiqar will constitute the task force and
will remain appointed in PIA for three months. They will not draw any
salary from the airline. The task force will prepare a report regarding
matters of PIA and will submit it to the Defence Ministry.

PIA, on 19 March 2012, has issued a "Request for Proposal",
for flight simulators for Airbus A320-200 and ATR-42/72-500.

PIA Engineering & Maintenance Department, which has
an extensive repair and maintenance facility for its aircraft at Jinnah
International Airport, Karachi, has performed its first major maintenance
check (A-Check) of Boeing 777 aircraft at Allama Iqbal International Airport,
Lahore.In order to extend aircraft maintenance network, PIA has started
to build maintenance hubs at Lahore and Islamabad in addition to its base
at Karachi. Performing an A-Check of B777 aircraft is a major milestone
in this regard. PIA Engineering plans to extend the maintenance facilities
at Lahore and Islamabad further, to perform major checks of all aircraft
in its fleet and also offer services to third party customers to generate
additional revenue for the airline.

A PIA flight PK-387, from Islamabad to Karachi via Multan,
suffered a bird strike over Multan, on 13 March 2013. The nose cone/radome
of the Boeing 737-300 was damaged due to the bird hit. The plane managed
to land safely, following an inspection the aircraft was allowed to resume
its flight to Karachi. (25 Mar. 13)

The delivery schedule of the PIA's five Airbus A320s, which
it has acquired on lease, was recently revealed. According to the schedule,
PIA will receive the first of the A320 on 20 March and the second on 31
March 2013. After which one will be delivered in early April this year
and the remainder two will be delivered in May 2013.

A PIA Boeing 747-300, flight Pk-301 from Islamabad to Karachi
suffered a bird strike, on 28 February 2013. No further details are available
at this stage.

The PIA aircraft ATR-42-500, registration AP-BHJ, which skidded off the
runway at Lahore's Allama Iqbal Airport, on 31 August 2012 and suffered
damage to its starboard side main landing gear & number 2 engine,
has been declared a write-off (beyond economical repair). PIA acquired
the plane in December 2006.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Federal
Cabinet, on 26 February 2013, approved an interim business plan presented
by the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for next five years.
The ECC also allowed the Ministry of Finance to issue continuing fresh
guarantees amounting Rs. 49.0 billion during the current year to meet
with the critical liquidity condition of the corporation.
The ECC, agreed to the request of Ministry of Defense for the arrangement/provision
of US $ 46.0 million by the Ministry of Finance with or without Government
of Pakistan's guarantees, enabling the PIA to acquire five narrow body
aircraft to replace its ageing fleet.
The ECC also agreed to the proposal for extending the loans/guarantees
of Rs 33.5 billion until June 2013.
It further agreed to the borrowing by PIA of Rs 13.50 billion from the
National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) against a letter of comfort to be subsequently
replaced by the government's guarantees.
The approved measures for the PIA, would provide for fuel efficiency through
fleet modernization, optimum fleet deployment on network, introduction
of additional frequencies on high demand high yield routes, revenue enhancement
and increase in market share, separation of the core airlines business
activities from non-core (SBUs) and restructuring of PIA's liabilities
to reduce financial cost.(11 Mar. 13)

The Commanding Officer of the Airport Security Force (ASF)
in Nawabshah, Tanweer Ahmed Khan, died after being struck by the propeller
of an aircraft of PIA Training Academy, on 21 February 2013. Mr. Khan
had travelled from Nawabshah to Sukkur in the same aircraft (a Cessna
172) together with the pilot (instructor), trainee pilot and another ASF
official.
PIA spokesman Mashhood Tajwar said the pilot turned off the engine and
Mr Khan got off the aircraft, but on the tarmac he was hit in the arm
by the rotating propeller. He started to bleed and died before reaching
a hospital.
Another version of the storey in the press is: A Cessna 172 of PIA Academy
was on training flight from Nawabshah to Sukker. At Nawabshah, the ASF
Chief and His wife were also taken onboard. The aircraft landed at Sukker
and Engine was still running when the ASF Cheif was allowed by Instructor
to disembark. As he left the aircraft, his hand was accidently struck
by the revolving propeller. Due to excessive bleeding he lost his life.
The Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into the accident.

A PIA flight PK-735 from Karachi to Jeddah, returned to
Karachi about 15 minutes after take-off, on 20 February 2013. A Boeing
747-300 with 465 passengers on-board, was bound for Jeddah when the crew
received fire indication/alert for engine number 2, following which the
pilot switched off the affected engine and returned to Karachi Airport
and landed safely.

PIA and TAROM of Romania have agreed to reciprocate flights,
starting April 2013.

Due to the incident on 11 February 2013, when PIA's Boeing 737-300 flying
from Sialkot to Muscat, was damaged during landing at Muscat airport,
PIA flights to Muscat, from Sialkot had been suspended.
The flight operations between Sialkot and Muscat were reinstated on 22
February 2013 with two flights per week. PIA has managed to re-route its
existing flight operation from Karachi and Islamabad to Muscat, via Sialkot.

PIA has announced to re-introduce its service from Pakistan
to Chicago (USA), via Barcelona (Spain), from 5 June 2013. It will be
a once a week service, using Boeing 777. (25 Feb. 13)

A PIA Boeing 737-300 (AP-BEH), from Sialkot to Muscat experienced
some problem with its landing gear during landing at Muscat Airport, on
11 February 2013. The flight PK-259 with 107 passengers and crew aboard
suffered a possible collapse of left-side main landing gear of the aircraft
during landing. The incident resulted in substantial damage to engine,
wing and main landing gear, due to which runway was blocked for a while.
There are no reports of injuries to passengers or crew. PIA sent a relief
aircraft to Muscat to carry passengers, PIA has also sent a team of Engineers
to Muscat to assess the damage to the aircraft.

According to a newspaper advert in Pakistan, PIA has offered
for sale two of its retired aircraft, a Boeing 747-Combi and a Boeing
737-340. PIA has invited sealed bids on "AS IS WHERE IS" basis.
PIA acquired both of these aircraft as new.
The Boeing 747 was built in 1979 and was delivered to PIA in July of that
year. It served PIA for 32 years before its retirement in 2011.
The Boeing 737 was built in 1985 and delivered to PIA in May of that year.
It was retired in 2012, serving PIA and the air travellers in Pakistan
for nearly 27 years. (18 Feb. 13)

PIA has announced that it is planning to construct a total
of three new aircraft maintenance hangars. Two of the three hangars will
be constructed at Karachi Airport and third one at Lahore Airport.

A PIA aircraft was hit by a passenger boarding bridge at
Karachi airport on 27 January 2013. The aircraft was being prepared for
flight from Karachi to Islamabad, the aircraft was damaged in the accident.
However the extent of damage or the aircraft was not revealed by PIA.
(4 Feb. 13)

A PIA flight PK-199, with 42 passengers on board, was ready
to depart from Kandahar Airport, Afghanistan, for Quetta in Pakistan,
when it was caught up in the rocket attack on Kandahar airport on 8 January
2013. The PIA ATR-42 plane was on the tarmac, ready for departure when
the unknown assailants fired eight to ten rockets at the Kandahar airport.
The passengers and the flight crew remained safe and there was no damage
to the aircraft. The plane was grounded temporarily but resumed its journey
with some delay. (21 Jan. 13)

A PIA flight PK-208, from Kuwait to Lahore, made an emergency
landing in the Iranian city of Kerman, on 4 January 2013. The Airbus A310
was carrying 180 people (passengers & Crew). The plane landed safely
at the Kerman airport. (7 Jan. 13)

A PIA flight PK-267 suffered a bird strike during landing
approach to Karachi?s Jinnah International airport, on 26 December 2012.
The Boeing 777-300ER from Dhaka, Bangladesh to Karachi suffered some engine
damage as a result. However, the extent of the damage to the engine is
not clear at this stage.(31 Dec. 12)

A PIA Boeing 737 from Multan to Karachi, landed at Rahim
Yar Khan's Sheikh Zayyed International airport, on 7 December 2012. The
flight PK-743 with 115 passenger and crew on board, had to land at Rahim
Yar Khan when one the aircraft?s engine developed a fault.(25 Dec.12)

The PIA to start twice weekly flights between Quetta, Pakistan
and Kandahar, Afghanistan, from 25 December 2012, possibly using ATR-42.

PIA will add eight Airbus aircraft into its fleet in 2013,
with the first aircraft joining the operation in February next year. In
total, five Airbus aircraft will be added during the first half of 2013,
while remaining three aircraft will join the PIA fleet in the second half
of 2013.
The PIA has not confirmed the exact type of the Airbus aircraft that have
been ordered, nor the fact as to when these planes were ordered and which
aircraft would these new planes replace.(3 Dec.12)

PIA flight PK-3338 from Jeddah to Lahore made an emergency
landing at Karachi airport on 18 November 2012. One of the engines of
Boeing 747, with 503 passengers on board, developed a fault, the engine
was shut down and the aircraft was diverted to Karachi where it made an
emergency landing. All passengers and crew-members remained safe.

On 18 November 2012, PIA flight PK-787, made an emergency
landing at Karachi airport after the engine no.2 suffered a problem. The
Airbus A310 had taken off from Karachi for its flight to London via Lahore.
However three minutes after take-off the engine no.2 developed a fault,
which was then shut down. The aircraft returned to Karachi airport and
made a safe landing.

PIA flight PK-212 (Airbus A310), from Dubai to Islamabad,
had to abort take-off due to some technical problem, on 17 November 2012.
All passengers and crew remained safe.

PIA flight PK-605, Islamabad to Gilgit, aborted take-off
run on 16 November 2012. The ATR-42 with 48 passengers on board used emergency
brakes on the runway before take-off. All passengers and crew members
remained safe.

A PIA Boeing 777-240ER was hit by a cargo loading/unloading
vehicle at Lahore airport, on 7 November 2012. The flight PK-758 arrived
from London and was supposed to fly to Karachi. The aircraft suffered
minor damage and was allowed to continue its journey to Karachi.

PIA flight PK-3413 from Karachi to Jeddah, suffered a bird
strike on 5 November 2012, soon after take-off from Karachi. The Boeing
747 returned to Karachi and managed to land safely.

A PIA Boeing 737-300 from Sukker also landed at Nawabshah
on 5 November 2012, due to a technical problem.

PIA flight PK-588 with 45 passengers, from Karachi to Bahawalpur,
made a technical landing at Nawabshah on 5 November 2012. The ATR-42-500
experienced engine problem.

PIA, on 1 November 2012 opened bids for the Dry Lease of
five narrow body and two wide body aircraft at its Head Office in Karachi.
The bid opening meeting was also attended by representatives of union/associations
of PIA, Transparency International Pakistan and Ministry of Defence as
observers.

A PIA Boeing 737, suffered a bird strike whilst landing
at Skardu airport on 31 October 2012. The pilot of the flight that was
from Islamabad managed to land the plane safely.

A PIA aircraft suffered damage to an engine on 30 October
2012, after a catering van crashed into it at Karachi airport. The flight
PK-3085 was being prepared to fly to Jeddah when the accident occurred.(26 Nov.12)

A PIA Boeing 747 suffered burst tyres during landing at
Lahore Airport, on 26 October 2012. The debris from the burst tyres also
damaged the lower part of the fuselage of the aircraft. The flight PK-2422
was operating from Dammam, Saudi Arabia to Lahore.

The government has appointed Secretary Defence, Lieutenant
General (Retd) Asif Yasin Malik, as the new Chairman of PIA, with immediate
effect.
Captain Junaid Yunus who has been working as acting Managing Director
has been appointed as the permanent MD of PIA, again with immediate effect.

The Economic Co-ordination Committee of the Federal Cabinet,
last week approved the issuance of guarantee for fresh loan of Rs. 9.36
billion for PIA. The committee also extended the government guarantee
on Sukuk Certificates on Rs. 6.80 billion, for two years.

A PIA Boeing 777 aircraft suffered damage at Lahore airport
when a catering van accidently hit the plane. The aircraft was being prepared
for flight PK-709, from Lahore to Manchester, UK, on 24 October 2012 when
the accident occurred. Due to the damage caused to the aircraft, the flight
to Manchester was delayed whilst PIA found a replacement aircraft.

We reported previously that PIA is to stop its flights to
two European cities as of 27 October 2012. However, PIA has stated that
it is not stopping flights to any of the European destinations.(29 Oct.12)

PIA conducted a test flight to Swat's Saidu Sharif airport
on 10 October 2012. PIA will re-commence flights to Swat from Islamabad
on 28 October 2012, after a gap of five years, the frequency will initially
be twice a week. The flights were stopped in June 2007 following advance
in the area by Taliban, the Pak Army successfully pushed out the militants
from the area and therefore, aerial communications are being re-established.
The Saidu Sharif airport which was established in 1978, suffered damage
during the fight to drive out the militants, has now been repaired/restored.(15 Oct.12)

A PIA flight PK-211 made a technical landing at Karachi
airport on 29 September 2012, due to an engine problem. The aircraft was
en-route from Islamabad to Dubai.
As note in the last week?s report, flight PK-211 had to abort take-off
run at Islamabad airport on 20 September 2012.

PIA is to stop its flights to two European cities as of
27 October 2012. The first is the once a week flight from Islamabad to
Frankfurt via Amsterdam and the second, also once a week, departs from
Lahore for Frankfurt via Amsterdam. Low passenger load is cited as reason
for the termination of these two flights.(8 Oct.12)

A PIA Boeing 777 en-route from Islamabad to Karachi, suffered
a bird strike to its engine no.1, during landing at Karachi's Jinnah International
Airport, on 24 September 2012. The aircraft landed safely at Karachi.

A PIA flight PK-240 made a technical landing at Karachi
airport on 22 September 2012, due to hydraulic problem. The flight was
en-route from Kuwait to Islamabad via Sialkot, it landed safely at Karachi's
Jinnah International airport.

A PIA flight PK-211 had to abort its take-off run at Islamabad
airport on 20 September 2012. The aircraft with 170 passengers on-board
was en-route from Islamabad to Dubai.

The US government imposed a fine of $150,000 on PIA, on
19 September 2012. The fine is the first to be imposed on an international
carrier in the USA, for keeping passengers aboard a plane during an extended
ground delay. The US Department of Transport stated that the airline violated
its time limit for overseas flights held on the tarmac for weather, mechanical
or other problems. They must give passengers a chance to exit the aircraft
after four hours in most cases.
PIA Flight 711 was travelling from Manchester, UK to New York's John F.
Kennedy airport, when it was diverted to Washington's Dulles airport on
29 October 2012, due to inoperable instrument landing equipment in New
York, which had been hit by a surprise snowstorm.The plane sat on the
tarmac for nearly five hours, according to transportation officials, who
alleged PIA made no effort to let passengers off or ask airport officials
for help.The captain and first officer got off the plane and inspected
the aircraft, but passengers were not given the opportunity to leave because
the airline thought the bad weather was too risky for them to exit via
stairs. A consumer protection regulation established in 2010, under pressure
from consumer advocates and Congress, requires domestic airlines to give
passengers a chance to deplane if a ground delay exceeds three hours.
The rule was extended last year for international flights, imposing a
four-hour limit. The exceptions being, for security or safety reasons
only.(1 Oct.12)

The Chairman and Managing Director of Pakistan International
Airlines, Air Chief Marshall (Retd) Rao Qamar Suleman tendered his resignation
on 18 September 2012. He tendered his resignation on health grounds. Rao
Qamar Suleman was appointed as Managing Director in March this year soon
after his retirement as the head of Pakistan Air Force. (24 Sept. 12)

A PIA flight PK-390 from Lahore to Islamabad suffered
a bird strike on 14 September 2012, while landing at Islamabad airport.
The Boeing 737 managed to land safely but the return flight of the aircraft
was cancelled.
It is pertinent mentioning here, that PIA has suffered 46 bird strikes
to its aircrafts so far this year, resulting in millions of rupees damage
to aircraft, disruption to numerous domestic and international flights
and as result losing millions of rupees of revenue.

A PIA flight PK-307 from Lahore to Karachi suffered a bird strike/ingestion
on 13 September 2012 at Karachi airport. The Airbus A310 managed to land
safely but the return flight of the aircraft was cancelled.

A PIA flight PK-747 from Islamabad to Madinah in Saudi Arabia, made a
technical Landing at Karachi airport on 12 September 2012. The Airbus
A310-300 with 187 passengers on-board, suffered from hydraulic problem
but managed to land safely at Karachi airport. The passengers resumed
their journey on another of PIA's aircraft.

A PIA flight PK 369 from Islamabad to Karachi, had to make
a technical landing at Lahore airport on 9 September 2012. The Boeing
737-340 aircraft with 118 passengers, developed a crack to a cockpit window
during the flight.

PIA flight PK 305 from Lahore to Karachi, received a hoax
bomb threat on 5 September 2012, as it was being prepared to leave Lahore
airport. All the passengers were off-loaded and the aircraft was searched
by the security forces. The aircraft left for its destination over five
hours late after getting the all clear from the bomb disposal squad. The
incident resulted in delay and disruption to a number of other domestic
and international flights.

A PIA flight PK 240 from Kuwait to Lahore, on 31 August
2012, had to make an emergency landing at Quetta, after developing a fault.
All 196 passengers and crew members were evacuated safely from the aircraft.

On 31 August 2012, an ATR-42 of PIA, carrying 42 passengers
and four crew members, from Islamabad to Lahore, skidded off the runway
while landing at Lahore airport, due to heavy rain. Ten passengers suffered
minor injuries. The plane suffered damage to the landing gear and its
tyres. The main runway of Lahore airport remained shut for 29 hours due
to the incident, disrupting all domestic and international flights.

In a meeting of its Board of Directors in August 2012, PIA
has increased the retirement age of its pilots by five years, from the
current 60 to 65.

The Safety Assessment of Foreign Aircraft (SAFA) of Europe
has inspected 25 flights of PIA to Europe between May and August this
year and found only two minor objections. The PIA officials say the SAFA
report reflects improvement in PIA's operations.
Previously, PIA has seen SAFA penalties on a number of occasions. In January
this year a flight (PK-734 Paris to Lahore) was denied permission to leave
as it had a seal defect. The aircraft remained stranded at Paris for two
days. Similarly in August last year, a PIA Airbus bound for Lahore was
stopped at Paris due to fuel leakage and 39 safety lapses and defects.
The aircraft was released after nine days.

In mid-August this year, an advertisement appeared in a
newspaper in Pakistan, offering PIA's retired Boeing 747-240B Combi (ex-AP-BAT)
for sale, on "as is where is" basis. The Boeing 747, since its
withdrawal from service in year 2008, has been sitting at Karachi Airport.

In a meeting held on 1 August 2012, the government of Pakistan
has approved the request from PIA?s new management, for the provision
of $4.5 million for acquiring aircraft on dry lease, (it is pertinent
to note that PIA has decided to dry lease nine Boeing aircrafts in order
to improve its efficiency and conduct Hajj operations in 2012). The government
also assured the new management that it would favourably consider the
conversion of Rs. 8 billion loan by the federal government into equity.
Furthermore, in order to ease the financial situation of PIAC, the federal
government has directed the Finance Ministry to work out a plan for the
re-scheduling of Rs.147 billion owed to different banks by PIAC.

PIA has decided to carry Hajjis from Bangladesh, Myanmar
and Sri Lanka this year, enabling them to perform Hajj.

A PIA flight PK-320 from Quetta to Lahore suffered a bird
strike/ingestion on 29 July 2012. The aircraft landed safely at Lahore's
Allama Iqbal International airport.

A PIA plane, flight PK-749, from Islamabad to Paris via
Milan, was hit by a forklift truck at Milan airport on 14 July 2012. The
incident took place during loading/unloading of baggage/cargo at Milan
airport. After which the plane was grounded and the 169 passengers travelling
to Paris were shifted to hotel.(17 Sept.12)

During a recent session of the lower house of the Parliament,
the defence minister informed the house that out of the total of 12,148
flights operated by PIA during the first quarter of this year, 4,345 suffered
delays, which is about 36 percent of the total. The minister also stated
that the punctuality of the flights by PIA was around 64 percent for the
same quarter.

A PIA Boeing 747-367 (registration AP-BFU) en-route from
Karachi to Lahore, suffered a bird strike to its engine no.2, during landing
at Lahore's Allam Iqbal International Airport, on 5 July 2012. The crew
managed to land the aircraft safely but the return scheduled flight of
the aircraft was cancelled that day. However it was flown back to Karachi
the next day for repairs to the engine. (9 July 12)

The PIA chief Rao Qamar Suleman revealed on 21 June that
PIA would lease six new planes within four months. These would include
two Boeing 777s and four Boeing 737-800s.
However, he didn't make clear if these aircrafts are in addition to the
ten aircrafts for which an advertisement appeared in the local newspaper
in Pakistan on 16 June. The advert was for lease of ten aircrafts by September
this year, comprising of 2 Boeing 777s, four Boeing 737-400s and four
Boeing 737-800s. (27 June 12)

A PIA Airbus A310-300 (Flight PK-211), travelling from
Islamabad to Dubai on 9 June 2011, returned to Islamabad about 50 minutes
after take-off due to smell of smoke. The electronic malfunction alerted
the crew, who returned to Islamabad and made a safe landing.

The CAA of Pakistan has recently released the report
of the investigation into PIA's Fokker F-27 crash on 10 July 2006, in
which 41 passengers and four crew members lost their lives. The report
outlines the causes of the accident to be poor maintenance/overhaul of
the right engine by PIA maintenance personnel, resulting in engine failure,
together with poor airmanship displayed by both of the PIA pilots who
failed to control the situation. It also blames the CAA Airworthiness
for lack of regulating and monitoring the quality control system at PIA's
Engineering.
The full report can be view at the CAA's website.

A near-miss incident between two PIA planes took place
on 10 may 2012. An ATR-42-500 (flight PK-550) had taken-off from Karachi,
bound for Multan, it was flying at 14,000 feet. Shortly afterwards a Boeing
747-367 (flight PK-306) also took off from Karachi for Lahore. It appears
that the Boeing 747, due to its suprior airspeed, caught up with the slower
ATR-42. Because the two aircraft had reached a vertical separation of
less than 1000 feet, the Traffic Collision Avoidance System (TCAS) installed
in both aircraft, warned the pilots and the ATR-42 climbed to avoid the
Boeing 747. (11 June 12)

PIA flight PK 203 bound for Dubai, received a bomb threat,
as it was preparing for the flight at Lahore’s Allama Iqbal Airport
on 17 May 2012. The Airbus A310, with 157 passengers and 10 crew members,
was preparing for take-off when the threat was received. The plane had
to be evacuated and searched. The bomb threat turned out to be hoax, after
the clearance from the security forces, the Airbus resumed its journey
after a delay of four hours. (17 May 2012)

A PIA flight PK-586 which took off from Karachi for Bahawalpur
on 27 April 2012, was diverted back to Karachi after a passenger threatened
to hijack the plane. The ATR-42 plane had just taken off from Karachi
when a disgruntled passenger told one of the cabin crew that he could
hijack the plane. The cabin crew informed the captain, who diverted the
plane back to Karachi, where the plane was directed to a remote area of
the airport. The person who threatened the plane was taken into custody
and the remaining passengers disembarked safely. The plane was searched
and was found to be safe to resume its journey.(2 May 12)

The United Kingdom Police have asked the PIA management
to stop its crewmembers from stealing goods from the hotels and shops
during their stay in Manchester, UK. It is alleged that the retailers
and hoteliers had been voicing concerns over the conduct of PIA crew.
The goods stolen from hotels included gowns, towels, kettles and glasses
etc. As the request to PIA management was made by the Greater Manchester
Police, it is not certain whether the PIA crews staying in other cities
of UK conduct themselves in a better manner or not.(16 Apr.12)

Former chief of Pakistan Air Force Rao Qamar Suleman, who
retired on 18 March 2012 as the Chief of PAF, has been appointed Managing
Director (MD) of Pakistan International Airlines. He took charge on 29
March 2012, he replaces Mr. Nadeem Yousuf Zai.
Mr. Nadeem Yousuf Zai has been appointed as DG Civil Aviation Authority.
It is worth noting that Mr. Yousaf Zai is also an active pilot with PIA,
therefore, it would be interesting to see how the clash of interests is
avoided if he continues to fly as a pilot with PIA and also heads the
CAA. Considering that EASA (European Aviation Safety Agency) is already
concerned about the clash of interest between the officers of PIA, also
working for the CAA. Mr. Yousaf Zai has been in-charge of PIA for a year.
He has headed CAA previously whilst still actively working for PIA.(2 Apr.12)

The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has suspended
PIA's "maintenance organisation approval", for its failure to
meet the required standards. The EASA is unhappy about the appointment
of the maintenance management team without notifying EASA.
The EASA has also expressed concerns about the Category 3 maintenance
checks & repairs carried out by PIA. All this could lead to PIA being
suspended from the European airspace again, as happened in 2007. (21 Mar.12)

The PIA and Airbus signed an agreement on 17 February 2012,
for the transfer of ownership of six A310 aircraft. The aircraft which
are already in PIA's fleet were leased in 2004. It is anticipated that
the transfer of ownership will save $2.0 million per month for the PIA.

The PIA signed an agreement worth $1.50 billion, on 14 February 2012,
to purchase five Boeing 777-340ER aircraft, with option on further five.
The first aircraft will be delivered in March 2015 and the delivery of
all five aircraft will be completed by November 2015. The MOU for the
purchase of the aircraft was signed in November 2011 during the Dubai
Air show. PIA already operates nine Boeing 777s.(21 Feb.12)

On 20 October 2011, a PIA Boeing 747 (flight PK 3539) with
493 passengers and 15 crew on-board, was forced to abort take-off when
fumes engulfed the cabin. The aircraft carrying mostly pilgrims, from
Multan airport bound for Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, taxied towards the runway
despite concerns from the passengers. A passenger stated that "When
we boarded the plane, we felt a strange smell and smoke inside, we complained
to the crew but they ignored it and told us it was because of roasted
meals, the plane went for take-off but stopped minutes later when passengers
protested strongly and there was chaos."
A PIA spokesman stated that "the hydraulic system of the plane failed
just before take-off and its fumes came inside the cabin. We off-loaded
the passengers and sent them on another plane."

(30 Nov.11)

A Boeing-737 aeroplane belonging to PIA, (flight PK-369,
from Islamabad to Karachi) made an emergency landing at Multan Airport
on 27 September 2011, due to technical fault. (17 Oct.11)

PIA earned Rs.107.53 revenue in the financial year 2010,
which is an increase of 13.7 percent over the previous year.
The gross profit for the financial year 2010 was Rs.14.97 billion and
the net profit from operations was Rs.720million, this is compared to
net loss from operations of Rs. 3.19billion in the previous year. (18 Apr.11)

PIA resumed its flight operation to Colombo, Sri Lanka,
after a gap of three and half years. PIA will operate three flights per
week between Karachi and Colombo, whilst Air Lanka will operate four flights
per week on the same route, making it a daily frequency between Karachi
and Colombo.

The MD of PIA had to resign recently due to the protests
by the unions over PIA's Joint Venture Commercial Agreement (JVCA) with
the Turkish Airlines. (28 Feb.11)

PIA signed a Joint Venture Commercial Agreement (JVCA) with
the Turkish Airlines on 29 December 2010. On implementation of the JVCA,
PIA will suspend its flights to New York and Chicago, in the USA, Barcelona
in Spain, Amsterdam in Netherland, Frankfurt in Germany and Italy. Instead
there will be daily flights from Islamabad, Karachi and Lahore to Istanbul
for onward international travel on the Turkish Airlines. The JVCA is subject
to the approval of the relevant Anti-Trust Immunity (ATI) and other regulatory
authorities of both countries. (11 Jan.11)

As of 15 January 2011, PIA will start twice weekly flight
from Karachi and Quetta to Zahedan, Iran.

As of 6 January 2011, PIA will start direct flights from
Sialkot to Dammam, Saudi Arabia.

PIA has started a flight academy to train its own pilots.
The academy will be based at Benazirabad, Sindh, and it will be operational
as soon as the maintenance hanger is completed, until such time, the flying
operations will be undertaken from Karachi. The academy will have simulators
and actual aircrafts for training purposes. To this end PIA has acquired
two Cessna 172 aircrafts from Pakistan Air Force and is acquiring further
two Cessna 172s from the same source. (27 Dec.10)

As of 5 November 2010, PIA has started once a week, Peshawar
to London via Karachi, flight. (15 Nov.10)

On 25 September 2010, a Boeing 777 belonging to PIA,
with 255 passengers and 18 crew on-board, departed from Toronto, Canada
for Karachi, Pakistan, via Manchester, UK. The plane was diverted to Sweden,
after the Canadian police had received a call from a woman that a man
on-board the plane had explosives.
The plane landed safely at Arlanda airport, Sweden and a 30 year old Canadian
man of Pakistani origin was detained by the Swedish police. No explosives
were found on the aeroplane or the man. The aircraft and all its passengers
and crew, except the man who allegedly had explosives on him, left for
Karachi after the aeroplane had been given an all clear. The man in question
was released a couple of days later. It has been reported that the girlfriend
of the man held, had called the police and stated that he had explosives
on him, as she was unhappy about him going to Pakistan to get married.
(27 Sept.10)

PIA signed an agreement with United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA) on 25 August 2010, by which the USTDA has granted $864,000 to PIA to conduct a feasibility study to establish a Maintenance Repair Overhaul (MRO) facility in Pakistan.

The South Asian and Middle Eastern MRO market is expected to grow to $9.0 billion. If PIA is successful in establishing an MRO facility in Pakistan, it has a $100 million revenue potential and may create up to 5,000 jobs.(30 Aug10)

Following the crash on 28 July 2010, of the Airbus A321 belonging to Air blue, PIA aeroplanes had three mishaps, details are as follows:

On 29 July 2010, PIA flight PK-252 with 107 passengers on board took off from Kabul, bound for Islamabad. It appears that a hard object struck the windscreen of Boeing 737 causing a crack to the outer windshield. However, the aircraft continued its flight to Islamabad, but was unable to land at Islamabad due to bad weather, the flight was diverted to Lahore, where it landed safely.

On 2 August 2010, a PIA flight PK-308, bound for Islamabad from Karachi, made an emergency landing 15 minutes after take-off, due to vibration in one of the engines. A Boeing 747 Jumbo jet with more than 215 passengers on-board, landed back at Karachi airport. None of the crew or passengers was hurt.
It is suspected that it was the same aircraft that suffered a bird strike, in addition to one of its engines malfunctioned a few days earlier.

On 7 August 2010, a PIA flight PK-301 with 400 passengers on-board, travelling from Islamabad for Karachi, burst all of its tyres as it touched down at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport. One of the private TV channels reported that the cabin was filled with smoke, possibly from the tyres. There were no reports of any injuries to passengers or crew. (16 Aug.10)

PIA started a new Karachi/Lahore/Barcelona/Chicago service on 2 June 2010, using Boeing 777 aircrafts. PIA now has 5 weekly flights to USA.

PIA launched its 3rd weekly flight between Sialkot and Muscat on 24 May 2010.(6 June10)

After four years of loss making, PIA achieved operating profit of Rs.2.84 billion for the year 2009, this compared to operating loss of Rs.7.3 billion for the year before.
PIAs revenue increased by 6.4 percent and the yield increased by 7 percent. The excess revenue target of Rs.1 billion was surpassed by Rs.45 million.(25 Apr.10)

PIA started once a week Lahore/Islamabad to Kuala Lumpur flight as of 31 March 2010. This is in addition to twice weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur from Karachi.
PIA has also started direct flights to Jeddah from Sialkot as of 3 April 2010, this is in addition to a weekly Sialkot to London (via Karachi) flight which started operations on 4 April 2010.
As of 1 April 2010, PIA has added a third weekly flight to Oslo/Copenhagen schedule.(11 Apr.10)

PIA recently completed a Flight Operations course for the staff of Ariana Afghan Airways, the course which started on 29 December 2009, normally has duration of 24 week but on the request of Ariana Afghan Airways, it was completed in 12 weeks without compromising its standard.
PIA has signed MoU with Afghanistan for conducting various courses. PIA has previously conducted three other courses for the Afghan Airways but the Flight Operations course was held for the first time.(28 Mar.10)

As of 18 February 2010, Pakistan International Airlines has started twice weekly flights from Sialkot to Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates.

PIA is to start Sialkot-Karachi-London flights in the near future.(28 Feb.10)

On completion of successful Hajj operations, Pakistan International Airlines has been awarded a shield by the Civil Aviation Authority of Saudi Arabia, in recognition of the distinguished passenger service, compared to other airlines conducting Hajj operations at Jeddah Airport. The shield was awarded for the swift check-in of passengers, transfer of passengers luggage and efficient passenger handling at Jeddah Airport by PIA staff.(17 Jan. 10)

On 20 December 2009, PIA's flight PK 701 from Islamabad to Manchester was diverted to Moscow airport due to fuel pump warning. The aircraft, an Airbus 310-300, with 189 passengers and 12crew, landed safely at Moscow, however there was a delay of nearly 31 hours before a replacement aircraft was provided taking passengers to their final destination. It is believed that the passengers at Moscow were not treated very well and basic requirement like clean drinking water was very scarce.(03 Jan. 10)

PIA recently inaugurated the test facility for the PW127 engines installed on its fleet of ATR-42 aircraft, saving millions of dollars in foreign exchange. The test facility also has the capability to test auxiliary power units installed on Boeing 777s and Airbus A310 aircraft.
It is worth mentioning here that PIA already has capability for testing CF6-50, CF6-80 and CFM56-3 engines which are installed on Boeing 747-200, Airbus A310-300 and Boeing 737-300 in PIAs fleet. It also has full engine overhaul capability for CF6-50 and CF6-80 engines.

Furthermore, PIA has embarked on a project to establish a facility to overhaul Landing Gears, which should be ready by December 2010.(16 Nov.09)

As of 29 July 09, PIA will start a weekly service from Sialkot to Dubai.
Whilst it is good news for the travellers from Sialkot, however it is surprising following PIAs admission in Lahore High Court that its internal flights are suffering delays due to lack of aircrafts.(26 July 09)

From 1 July 2009, PIA will start international flights from Bahawalpur airport to Dubai with the frequency of three flights per week.(28 June 09)

On 30 May 2009, one of PIAs ATR 42 aeroplane suffered heavy landing at Lahore airport. The aircraft was on a schedule flight from Multan to Lahore, when on landing at Lahore, the aircraft appear to have skidded off the runway. None of the crew of 4 and 43 passengers sustained any injuries. The nose, left undercarriage and the fuselage of the aircraft has been heavily damaged.
An inquiry to determine the cause of heavy landing has been ordered.(13 June 09)

As of 2 April 2009, PIA started a weekly Lahore Dubai - Stanstead (London,UK) flight, PIA has also started a weekly Islamabad Dubai Stansted (London, UK) flight from 3 April 2009.(5 Apr. 09)

As of 27 October 2008, PIA started a weekly Sialkot-Abu Dhabi flight, PIA also started Sialkot-Muscat flights from 29 October 2008, again this is one flight per week. Thus PIA now operates flights to three international destinations from Sialkot. The third destination being Kuwait, flights for which were started in February this year.
Furthermore, PIA started Islamabad to Peshawar flights via Dera Ismail Khan, on 27 October 2008.(14 Dec. 08)

One of PIAs Boeing 777 suffered substantial hail damage on its approach to Italy's Milan airport on 2 July 2008. No one on board suffered any injuries and the plane made a safe landing. (5 Oct. 08)

As a direct result of escalating fuel prices on the world market, PIA has increased its fares on various International routes.

PIA started twice weekly flights from Islamabad to Leeds/ Bradford airport (UK), as of 2 July 2008.(19 July 08)

PIA has announced increase in domestic fares to be effective from16 June 2008. One way domestic fares to be increased by Rs. 600, whilst return fares to be increased by Rs. 1000. (22 June 08)

The new Government has appointed Captain Ejaz Haroon as the new Managing Director of in placing of Aslam R Khan. The new Government has also appointed Defence Minister Mukhtar Ahmed as the new Chairman of PIA. (11 May 08)

PIA has invited tenders for the disposal of its fleet of Boeing 747s which were grounded in March 2008 due high fuel costs.PIA was operating six Boeing 747-367s and two Boeing 7474-240 combi aircrafts. (14 Apr. 08)

On 24 March 2008, PIAs flight PK 759 from Lahore to Jeddah was diverted to Karachi after a bomb threat. A security check was carried out at Karachi and after getting the all clear, the aircraft resumed its scheduled flight.

As of 19 March 2008, PIA has grounded its entire fleet of jumbo jets, citing high fuel cost as the reason. PIA was operating six Boeing 747-367s and two Boeing 7474-240 combi aircrafts.
PIA has also laid-off 80 flight engineers.(30 Mar. 08)

Swissport International announced on 22 February 2008, to terminate its Technical Services Agreement with PIA with immediate effect. PIA will manage the service with its ownresouce and workforce. Swissport has been responsible for providing the ground service to PIA since October 2006.(24 Feb. 08)

PIA would start direct flights from Sialkot to Kuwait from 15 February 2008.
PIA has also increased its Karachi-Sialkot frequency from two to three per week.

(10 Feb. 08)

PIA has offered for wet lease from February till August 2008, one of its Boeing 747-300 with 433 seats.

PIA has tendered to acquire a Boeing 777 simulator. (16 Dec. 07)

At the end of October 2007, PIA reduced its fare on the Beijing sector by 27%.

PIA Engineers who had been on strike demanding higher wages, ended their strike on Friday 3 November 2007. The strike had resulted in grounding most of PIAs fleet with dozens of flights being cancelled.

PIA would start its scheduled flights from Karachi to the new Sialkot airport on 30 November 2007. Furthermore, PIA intends to start international flights from Sialkot in 2008. (18 Nov. 07)

In order to replace its ageing fleet of Boeing 737 -300 aircrafts, PIA has signed a letter of Intent for the lease of seven new Airbus A320-200, from Aviation Lease and Finance Company of Kuwait, all seven aircrafts will be delivered in 2009. The Boeing 737-300 in the PIAs fleet are over 20 years old, replacing those with new aircrafts will result in the average age of the fleet of 10 years. PIA recently replaced its fleet of old Fokker F-27s with new ATR42-500s as well as acquiring eight new Boeing 777s. (17 August 07)

PIA has been declared to achieve the best track keeping performance record for the year 2006, by Birmingham International Airport Authority. PIA has attributed this achievement to its pilots of Airbus A-310, whose professionalism made this achievement possible. (3 August 07)

PIAs Islamabad bound aircraft with 433 passengers on-board made an emergency landing at Jeddah Airport on 9 July 2007. The flight had just taken off when the fire alarm for one of the engines sounded, there were no injuries to passenger or crew, however, due to the emergency landing all 16 tyres of the aircraft deflated. (20 July 07)

Some good news for PIA after all; The European Union has announced to relax its restrictions imposed on some of PIAs fleet due to safety concerns. It is believed that EU has allowed five of the eight Boeing 747s and six of the 12 Airbus A310s, to now fly to the EU countries.

(7 July 07)

PIA has sold its three grounded Fokker F-27s to Pakistan Navy for $1.2 million. Pak Navy intends to use the aircrafts as spares for its fleet of five F-27s.

As of 1 June 2007, PIA has increased its fares on all domestic routes by 10%.

PIA has signed a $522 million financing arrangement with ABN Ambro to fund the purchase of three Boeing 777-300 ER aircrafts.

The National Accountability Bureau has filed a reference regarding the alleged corruption in the purchase of Boeing 747 aircrafts from Cathy Pacific.

PIA has started Islamabad - Chitral flights, with the first flight landing in Chitral on 26 May 2007. (8 June 07)

A PIAs Boeing 737 with 80 passengers on-board was stranded at New Delhi airport on 19 May 2007, due to the faulty brakes. The aircraft was ready to embark on its scheduled journey to Lahore, when the brakes of the aeroplane jammed.

On 16 May 2007, One of PIAs Airbus A-310 with 180 passengers on board had to abort take off at Islamabad Airport. The Birmingham (UK) bound flight was taxiing when the pilot noticed that one of the engines was not providing the required power, emergency brakes were applied which resulted in deflation of eight of the tyres. Emergency services rushed to the scene but there were no reports of any injuries. The passengers were taken back to the lounge and a replacement aircraft was arranged to take them to their destination. The runway was re-opened after four and a half hours.
Fifteen domestic and eight International flights were affected due to the incident.

(25 May 07)

Further to the misfortunes reported on 25 April 2007, there are a few more items to report on the same theme: An ATR 42, suffered damage to its skin, landing gear and one of the doors following a collision with a vehicle on 3 May 2007 at Jinnah Airport, Karachi. The aircraft was commissioned into PIA fleet only on 6 April 2007.
A collision between two Boeing-777s occurred on 14 April 2007, at Jinnah Airport, Karachi. The tail of one aircraft clipped the tail cone of the other when being towed prior to flight.
An Airbus belonging to PIA was hit by a cargo loading vehicle at Jinnah Airport, Karachi.
There was a near miss on 12 April 2007, when one of PIAs aircraft was being pushed back and another was taxiing. The two narrowly avoided collision, again at Jinnah Airport, Karachi.
It is worth mentioning that last year PIA outsourced the ground handling in order to improve quality.Pakakhbar comments: PIA and the management of Jinnah Airport Karachi, need to review their systems to avoid minor accidents which result in huge costs in both repairs and passenger revenues. It also causes flight delays and inconvenience to passengers and tarnishes the reputation of the national carrier.

There was a slight good news for PIA in that a Boeing 777-240 was delivered on 10 March 2007.(11 May 07)

The misfortunes of the national carrier seem to continue, a number of its domestic & international flight suffered delays.
On 24 April, PIA's flight from Karachi to Dubai suffered an engine malfunction when the aircraft was 180 km from Dubai, however, the pilot of the Airbus A-310 with 101 passengers on-board managed to land the plane safely.

The Government of Pakistan has appointed the new chairman and CEO of PIA, he is named as Zafar A Khan. Mr. Z. A. Khan took charge of his new post in April 2007.(25 April 07)

The Chairman and CEO of PIA Tariq Kirmani has resigned, his resignation has been accepted by the government but he has been asked to continue in his post until a successor has been appointed. (6 April 07)

Following the European Union ban PIA has revised its flight schedule to Europe and North America from 15 March 2007. However PIAs problems are not going away, as its engineering department went on strike in the third week of March 2007, although the strike has now finished with resolution of most of the problems, it had meant delays and disruptions to PIA flights.

PIA has started direct flights from Lahore to Bahrain.

PIA has now received four of the seven ATR 42-500 it had ordered. (24 March 07)

The European Union has banned the older aircrafts such as Boeing 747 and Airbus A310 of PIA from its airspace on safety grounds. This leaves PIA with only the Boeing 777s which it can fly to the EU countries. EU stated that it had warned PIA regarding maintenance problems and the age of its fleet.
The view of PIA is that its aircrafts are maintained at PIAs workshop which has the EU safety certificate to undertake such maintenance. PIA is adhering to EUs safety standards in the maintenance of its aircrafts, so is the EU saying that its awards of safety certificates to the workshop are not up to the required standards.

PIA received the second Boeing 777-300ER in February 2007.(12 March 07)

PIA has leased two Airbus A321s.(23 Feb. 07)

By the end of this month, PIA hopes to commence weekly direct flight from Islamabad to Beijing.
PIA already operates two flights a week on Karachi-Islamabad-Beijing-Tokyo route.(9 Feb. 07)

The Frankfurt Airport Authority in Germany awarded the first prize to PIA, for the biggest increase in volume of cargo in 2006. Emirates, was second and LTU (a German group) came third.(4 Jan. 07)

The first of three Boeing 777-300ER was delivered to PIA on 22 December 2006. PIA ordered a total of eight Boeing 777s, which included 200ER, 200LR & 300ER versions. The 200ER and LRs have been delivered, leaving two further 300LRs to be delivered.

The second of seven ATR42-500 aircraft has been delivered to PIA, which started commercial operations in December 2006 on the Northern route, replacing the C-130 of Pakistan Air Force. The C-130 was a temporary arrangement until the delivery of ATR 42. The remainder five of the ATRs are due for delivery between January and May 2007. (22 Dec. 06)

PIAs has refurbished its Boeing 747-300 and the European Unions Safety body has cleared it for landing into Europe. Therefore, this particular Boeing 747-300 has resumed its flights to UK and Europe. PIA is now working on its fleet of Boeing 747-200s to allay European Unions concerns, and hope to have these aircrafts ready very soon.

On 20 November 2006, PIAs flight PK-308 from Karachi to Islamabad (direct), hit an air turbulence over Lahore, the flight had 190 passengers and crew on board. Due to the air turbulence the plane had to descend 1,000 feet very quickly, causing minor injuries to some of the passengers and crew.(24 Nov. 06)

PIA has started a weekly service from Peshawar to Stansted, London via Karachi, thus connecting Peshawar with Europe. The first flight PK-773 left Peshawar on 2 September 2006. In addition, PIA has also started a weekly service from Karachi to Stansted. PIA is the first Asian Airline (Excluding Turkey) to start scheduled service to Stansted. (10 Sept. 06)

Due to air accident of 10 July 2006 involving a Fokker F-27 and the subsequent grounding of F-27s for passenger flights (refer to the section Pak Civil Aviation General.), PIA has introduced Boeing 737 on Lahore to Bahawalpur route with two flights per week.(20 August 06)

The first of seven new ATR 42-500 aircraft was delivered to PIA at the end of May 2006, it was inducted into service in June on Karachi- Gawadar- Muscat route. The ATR 42 will be replacing Fokker F 27s which have served PIA and the people of Pakistan for more than four decades.
PIA will also be acquiring two ATR 72s.

The second Boeing 777-200LR, which should have been delivered in February this year, finally arrived in Islamabad from New York on 24 March 2006. This brings the total number of Boeing 777s currently in PIAs fleet to five. PIA is purchasing a total of eight Boeing 777s at a cost of $1.2 billion and intends to lease a further four.

PIA has closed down to routes to Nairobi, Urumchi, Frankfurt and Istanbul. These routes were announced with fanfare a while but have been closed quietly.

For details of increase in PIAs fares and PIAs newly acquired expertise of repairs to
Boeing 737 refer to the section "Pak Civil Aviation General."

(1 July 06)

The second Boeing 777-200LR, which should have been
delivered in February this year, finally arrived in Islamabad from New
York on 24 March 2006. This brings the total number of Boeing 777s
currently in PIA’s fleet to five. PIA is purchasing a total of eight
Boeing 777s at a cost of $1.2 billion and intends to lease a further
four.

A London bound Boeing 747 belonging to PIA suffered
damage to its no.4 engine, as it was taxing for take off at Islamabad
Airport. A Shaheen Airport Service coached rammed into it in heavy rain.
There were 113 passengers on board the aircraft and the coach was
returning after dropping passengers off for another plane. None of the
passengers or the coach driver suffered any injuries. The passengers
were moved to another plane which took off 3.5 hours later. It is
believed the coach driver was unable to judge the distance between the
plane and his vehicle due to the poor visibility caused by heavy rain.
An investigation of the accident which took place on 12 March 2006, has
started.

(25 March. 06)

PIA and Turkish Airlines will start two return
flights a week from Islamabad to Istanbul and onto Frankfurt. The
flights will be operated under the codeshare agreement from 30 March
2006. As part of the agreement, PIA will operate the flights and Turkish
Airlines will have 50 seats with its own flight numbers as marketing
carrier. This is similar to the four flights per week already operated
by the Turkish Airlines from Karachi to Istanbul and back, where PIA has
24 seats with its own flight numbers as marketing carrier.

In addition to the aircrafts ordered i.e. eight
Boeing 777s and seven ATR 42-500s, PIA will lease a further 10 aircrafts
to enhance its fleet. The proposed 10 aircraft would comprise of four
Boeing 777s, three 70 – seat turbo-props and three Airbus A-310
freighters.

PIA is also planning to replace its fleet of Boeing
737s in 2010 and the Airbus A310 from 2011.

PIA’s received the delivery of fourth Boeing 777 (and
the first of Boeing 777-200LR) on 29 February 2006, the aircraft was due
for delivery in January 2006. PIA’s inducted the aircraft into its fleet
and commenced its maiden flight on 3 March 2006, on a 14 hour non-stop
journey from Islamabad to Toronto. The second Boeing 777-200LR was due
for delivery in February 2006 but it will now be delivered some time in
March 2006.

After nearly five years of suspension, PIA on 4 March
2006, has restored Karachi – Dalbandin flights using Fokker F-27s. This
service would greatly help the foreign engineers working on mega
projects in the Chagai area of Blochistan

(15 March. 06)

PIA’s
Engineering Department achieved another landmark on 15 February 2006,
when one of PIA’s Boeing 777-200ER was rolled into the Isphani hangar,
Karachi, for “Check C”, a major overhaul.

(26 Feb.
06)

As of 16 November 2005, PIA has commenced two flights
per week to Glasgow,UK. One flight starts from Lahore and the other from
Islamabad.

PIA has placed an order worth approximately $100 million
with ATR for seven ATR42-500 turboprop aircrafts. The ATR 42-500 will
replace the old Fokker F-27s which have served PIA and the people of Pakistan
for over three decades. The ATR is a 48 seat aircraft with low noise cabin
interior. The delivery of the aircrafts to PIA is scheduled to be between
2006 and 2007, the delivery of first aircraft is programmed for May 2006.
(20 Nov. 05)

PIA is inviting tenders for wet lease of four Boeing
747-200/300 and four Airbus A300-600/R or Airbus A310-300 or Boeing 767-200ER/300ER
for the Hajj season. The lease is for the period December 2005 to February
2006.

Also, PIA is inviting tender for the dry lease, with
option to purchase of one Boeing 777-200ER/300ER with General electric
engines. The lease is for a period of 18 to 24 months commencing October
2005.

Furthermore, PIA is inviting tenders to wet lease three
turbo propaircrafts of 48 to 50 seat capacity. The aircrafts should not
be more than five years old, the lease to commence November 2005 and may
be for one or two years. The aircrafts are to be used on domestic and
regional routes. (23 Sept. 05)

PIA has been trying, for a while, to dispose of a Boeing
747-200 and an Airbus A300 – B4. It will now try to dispose of these
aircrafts by public auction on 25 August 2005.

PIA has invited tenders for the wet lease of Airbus 330-200/300 or Airbus
A300-600 together with one Airbus A320 or Boeing 737-800.
PIA has previously used Boeing 737-200s and Airbus A310. The introduction
Boeing 737-800 or Airbus A320 will be new addition to the fleet

PIA has invited Expression of Interest for a new paint/maintenance
hangar. (22 August 05)

On 2nd August 2005, PIA started its first flight to Nairobi.
This is PIA’s first flight to anywhere in Africa after several years
gap.

As of 22 July PIA re-started flights from Islamabad to Swat using Fokker
F-27. The flights which take 30 minutes were stopped in 2001 due to non-profitability,
but have been resumed on the demand of the people of the area.(5 August 05)

PIA and its Saudi partner have managed to resolve the
dispute regarding the ownership of the three hotels. It has been agreed
that PIA will now retain 100% ownership of the Roosevelt in New York and
Scribe in Paris and will pay its Saudi partner $40 million.
PIA’s partner, His Royal Highness Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdul
Aziz Al saud, will retain the full ownership of the Minhal Holiday Inn,
Riyadh.(30 June 05)

In order to improve the interior of its older aircrafts,
PIA has asked Boeing’s team of interior specialists to evaluate
and recommend changes. The Boeing team has undertaken the evaluation and
has made its recommendations.

As of 18 June 2005, PIA has re-commenced flights on the
Gawadar-Muscat route.(18 June 05)

PIA advertised in the Flight International magazine in
March 2005, inviting bids to dispose of its 2xAirbus A-300s and 2xBoeing
747s. (01May 05)

On 1st March 2005, the undercarriage of a Canadian bound
Boeing 777 belonging to PIA, burst into flames at Manchester Airport as
the aircraft was taxiing to the terminal. All 333 passengers on-board
escaped using emergency chutes, 33 passengers suffered minor injuries,
although most were treated at the scene, seven were taken to two local
hospitals.
The Toronto bound passengers were held in the transit lounge until a replacement
aircraft was made available to take them to Canada.
This is the fifth incident involving PIA’s Boeing 777s in the last
11 months since PIA started to operate this type of aircraft, and it is
the fourth incident at Manchester airport for PIA’s Boeing 777s.
The past incidents have been blamed on the maintenance fault whereby the
Engineers used the wrong type of grease and too much of it during replacing
wheel assemblies. After touch down the heat caused by hard breaking on
landing seem to have caused the grease to catch fire.(5 Mar.05)

PIA recently entered into a strategic alliance with Lufthansa
Cargo AG. PIA’s first cargo flight (under the alliance) left Karachi
for Frankfurt on 5 December 04.
PIA’s cargo business recorded a growth of 14% last year and 19%
this year, resulting in RS 4.2 billion revenue earned last year and RS
5.3 billion this year. (10 Dec. 04)

In September 04, PIA advertised in the “Flight
International” to wet lease two Boeing 747s and an Airbus A300 for
the Hajj flights.(03 Oct. 04)

It was recently reported in the Parliament that since
2003, PIA had 11 cases of burst tyres or fire concerning its aircrafts.

Contrary to the previous reports, PIA has now decided on
the Canadian built Bombardier de Havilland Dash 8Q-300 to replace its
Fokker F-27s. It is believed the number of aircrafts involved is eight.
Dash 8Q-300 made its first flight in May 1987.
In May this year, PIA placed an advertisement in the “Flight International”
to buy/lease with purchase option for aircrafts of no more than 10 years
old, to replace the Fokker F-27s.(17 Sept. 04)

After several year’s break, PIA on 30 August, resumed
flights to Moscow.
PIA will fly twice weekly to the Russian Capital. In its drive to expand
its network, this is PIA’s 12th new Destination this year and 43rd
in total. The other destinations for this year’s route expansion
being Almaty, Colombo, Delhi, Dhaka, Fujaira, Huston, Kathmandu, Milan,
Mumbai and Ras-ul- Khaima.

In June a Fokker aircraft overshot the runway whilst
landing at Chitral airport, resulting in burst tyres and collaped undercarriage.There
were no reports of injuries.

Due to the refusal of Oman CAA to extend waiver to PIA
to operate Fokker aeroplanes, as of 1August 2004, PIA will suspend its
operations on Gawadar-Muscat-Gawadar route. PIA will continue operating
on Karachi-Muscat-Karachi route according to the demand.

Nepal has asked PIA for assistance in training of pilots
and engineers for the Royal Nepal Airlines.(30 July 04)

During 2003, PIA carried 1.8 million passengers in and
out of Manchester, UK and it is now operating 29 flights a week, to and
from Manchester. Manchester Airport is now PIA's biggest hub outside Pakistan.(2 July 04)

In June a Fokker aircraft overshot the runway whilst
landing at Chitral airport, resulting in burst tyres and collaped undercarriage.There
were no reports of injuries.

In reply to a Parliamentary question, it was revealed
that PIA sold its Fokker F-27s for US $0.4million dollar each.(June 04)

As of 15 June 2004, PIA is introducing Cargo service
to Europe, with four days a week service to London & Paris and once
a week to Oslo.

In early may PIA placed an advert in the “flight
International” to purchase/ lease (with option to purchase) seven
turboprop aircrafts of less than 10 years old, with deliveries to commence
in the last quarter of this year. These aircrafts would replace the fleet
of ageing Fokker F-27s.
It is worth noting that in the past it was reported that PIA had made
the decision to purchase ATR-42s to replace the F-27s.

In April 2004 PIA introduced, twice weekly Quetta-Gwadar-Turbat-Karachi
flights. Before this link it took people two days to travel by road from
Quetta to Gwadar.

Following recent upgrade of the Bhawalpur airport (with
the help of UAE government), and demand by the local business community,
PIA has started Boeing 737 flights to Bhawalpur from 28 March 2004. It
previously operated Fokker F-27s on this route. PIA will operate two flights
a week to this destination.

PIA has recently been awarded the Part-145 Certificate from
the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). This is a major achievement
for PIA’s Engineering department.
Following this achievement PIA signed an agreement with Turkish Airlines
to overhaul 10 aeroplanes of the Turkish Airlines.(26.03.04)

PIA received its first Boeing 777 on 29 January 2004
which went into service the same day, and the second aircraft was received
on 15 February whilst the third is due to be received this month (March
2004).

After two years of suspension of flights, due to the
Indian government’s senseless ban of Pakistani flights over its
air-space, PIA has resumed its twice weekly service to Kathmandu in Nepal,
as of 4 January 2004. PIA is due to re-open its office in Kathmandu.

As from 2 January 2004, PIA has introduced weekly Quetta-Sharajah-Quetta
flight. PIA already operates weekly flight to Dubai in UAE. The third
international flight being operated from Quetta is the Quetta-Mashad flight
by PIA, which it is maintaining despite a very small load. PIA also announced
reduced cargo rate of Rs 16 per Kilo for Dubai & Sharjah provided
the load is over 500Kg.
PIA further announced a 50 percent reduction in fare from Quetta-Karachi
sector for people travelling to Almaty (Central Asia).

As from 1st January 2004 PIA is introducing Lahore-Sharjah
flight.

In December 2003 Airbus presented PIA with an award for
the best utilisation of Airbus aircrafts anywhere in the world. This the
second time PIA has been conferred such an award and it is also a testament
to the skills of PIA’s maintenance personnel who have maintained
this fleet of aircraft and have kept it airworthyness despite the fact
that the fleet is now 24 years old.

Upon restoration of air links with India, PIA plans to
operate 12 direct flights a week to New Dheli and Bombay.
Now PIA will also fly directly to Colombo, Dhaka and Khatmandu and resume
operations to Bangkok and Hong Kong and possibly to Kuala Lumpur and Maldives.
According to independent reports PIA suffered $48 million loss due to
the suspension of air links, which we believe is an act of terrorism on
part of the Indian Government. (3.12.03)

As well as inducting the Boeing 777s into its fleet next
year, PIA is hoping to lease six Airbus A301.(3.12.03)

PIA plans to start flights to Glasgow, Scotland from
April 2004 and to Houston, USA from June 2004.

As from 16 December 2003, PIA would resume its flights
to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and Almaty, Kazahkstan in Central Asia. The flights
would be operated once a week from Karachi via Islamabad.

PIA’s Haj operation is to start on 26 December 2003, in which PIA
hopes to take 120,000 Hujjaj to the Holy land and back. This will involve
430 special flights from Isalambad, Karachi, Lahore, Peshawer and Quetta
to Jeddah and back. PIAC has leased two Boeing 747s from Orient Thai airline
to assist with the Haj operation.

Due to the demands by the business community of Multan
area, PIA has decided to restore four times a week Boeing service between
Multan and Lahore.

During the mango export season, PIA earned Rs 75million
carrying mangoes to London, Manchester, Frankfurt, Oslo, Amsterdam, Rome,
Paris, Athens, Copenhagen, Toronto, Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha, Damam, Dubai,
and Abu Dhabi. PIA used a freighter Airbus A-306 it leased from Turkish
company ANG for this purpose, together with three Boeing 747 aircrafts.
It carried more than 2000 tons of mangoes to destinations mentioned above.

With an investment of 60 to 70 million Rupees, PIA has
launched “Speedex” a door to door courier service. The service
is being launched in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad/ Rawalpindi and there
will be phased expansion to other cities throughout the Country. (23.07.03)

China Civil Aviation Administration has allowed PIA to
operate flights to Shanghai.
PIA was the first foreign airline to start operations to Shanghai in 1964.
Recently PIA was operating twice weekly flight from Karachi-Islamabad
to Beijing only, which were reduced to one last month.(16.07.03)

The PIAC board of Directors has approved to refurbish
its fleet of Air Bus A310 and Boeing 747 combi aircrafts. The board also
approved the installation of Recaro seats for the Boeing 777s.(21.05.03)

PIA will be the first airline in South East Asia to install
electronic flight bags on board its aircrafts. PIA has decided to install
the Jeppeses Electronic Flight bags on its three Boeing 777, to be delivered
from January 2004 onwards. (12.05.03)

For the first quarter of current financial year (Jan-Mar
2003) PIA earned a profit of 1.5billion Rupees.

PIA intends to commence three more flights from Islamabad
to Kabul via Peshawar, The corporation is also considering to add a third
flight to China.(28.04.03)

PIA plan to re-introduce safari flights from Islamabad
to the Northern areas.(21.04.03)

As of 19th April 2003 PIA has introduced 2 weekly flights
from Islamabad to Dera Ghazi Khan.

As part of its fleet renewal programme, early last year,
PIA purchased six Boeing 747-300 from Cathy Pacific.
Also late last year (2002), it placed an order with Boeing for eight 777s
comprising of three 777-200ERss, two 777-200LRs and three 777-300ERs,
the deliveries of the three 200ER would be in January, February and March
2004 (one a month), the two 200LR in January and February 2006 whilst
the three 300LR will be delivered in January, February and March 2008
(one a month). This is contrary to the reports at the time of placing
the order that deliveries would commence before the end of 2003.

PIA is currently negotiating with ATR to purchase 7 used
ATR 42 aircrafts to replace its fleet of Fokker F 27s. PIA’s fleet
of Fokker F 27 has an average life of 40 years and therefore are long
overdue for replacement. The ATR is a collaboration of French & Italian
aircraft manufacturing companies. The ATR 42 is a 42/50 seat aircraft,
which made its first flight in 1984.
PIA is also looking to lease four more Airbus A310 to replace four of
the eight A300B4s, which are also quite old aircrafts. The remaining four
Airbus A300B4s in PIA’s fleet would retire after PIA has taken delivery
of the Boeing 777s towards the end of this year.

Due to the above fleet renewal programme, PIA has invited
bids for the disposal of its old aircrafts, i.e. 2 Fokker F-27s with immediate
affect, 1 Boeing 747-200 in April 2003 and 4 A300 B4-200 Airbus in June/
July this year. The bids were to be submitted by 7 March2003.

On the Instructions of Prime Minister Zaffar Ullah Khan
Jamali, as from 1st April this year, PIA is to commence flights from Quetta
to Dubai using Boeing 737s. It is worth noting that in the past PIA had
flights from Quetta to Sharaja, which were ceased, PIA also started flights
from Pasni to Sharaja, but these flights also ceased for some reason.
PIA then embarked on Turbat/Sharaja route using Fokker F.27 but subsequent
to the 11 Sept. these flights had to be suspended because the International
Civil Aviation stipulated that all aircrafts on international flights,
must have instruments which can detect the height & speed of other
aircrafts in the vicinity and the F. 27s don’t have such an instrument
on board.

PIA is considering selling its Hotel Roosevolt in New
York.

As of 16 March 2003 PIA has decided to levy Rs 5.0 per
kilogram fuel surcharge on all cargo goods except perishable items such
as fish, fruit and vegetables.
It is worth mentioning that other airlines have introduced fuel charges
much earlier and much more than PIA.